The owners of The Spalding Building in Waxahachie Texas, were approached by Lance Brooks of Texas Spirit Seekers about the possibility of conducting a scientific investigation of the paranormal activity that has been reported at the building for many years. Ann spoke to the TSS investigation team and they will conduct a thorough investigation of the Building. Texas Spirit Seekers is scientific in its approach to dealing with the paranormal and does not except the information gathered from Psychics, Séances or Ouija boards as this evidence can be tampered with by the individual giving the information, they have preconceived ideas about the paranormal before the start an investigation, they believe the place to be haunted before the go in the home.

We at Texas Spirit Seekers use the Null Hypothesis for every investigation we conduct. We state that the property in question has no paranormal activity before the investigation starts and try to debunk any of the reports of the paranormal, collect evidence using instrumentation such as audio recorders, video cameras, DVR systems, EMF meters, thermometers, etc. And review all data collected. We do report personal experiences but it is not accepted as paranormal activity unless it can be backed up by our instrumentation. The final report will have an introduction, history of the property if available, list of investigation team members, all experiences, data of interest, instrumentation used, comments, and a final record/conclusion. We at TSS do not charge for any of our services and will not accept payment or contributions to the group; we do this as a service to the community.

The Spalding Building:

The Spalding Building, if you look at the deed, was built in 1883. The Spalding’s purchased the building in 1908 so most of the town is under the impression that it was build in 1908. The building is 3 stories, a ground floor, a second floor and a basement. The building was used as a furniture store and the Spalding’s built coffins in the basement. Currently Ann Landis runs a small shop called Illuminations that carries Books, Gifts, Natural Fiber Apparel, Candles, Unique Woman’s Fancy Dress Apparel, Artwork and Handcrafts made by local Artists and Artisans, Reflexology and Ion Cleanse Foot Spas.

In October 1859 two young Catholic men JOHN HENRY SPALDING and his brother BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING moved into the Waxahachie area. The two are pictured below, JOHN HENRY SPALDING on the left and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING on the right.

JOHN HENRY SPALDING was born 4/29/1835 and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING on 2/16/1839 in Ralls County, Missouri, two of the ten children of BENJAMIN AARON SPALDING and MATILDA HAGER, and the grandson of JOHN AARON SPALDING who fought in the American Revolution. Their SPALDING and HAGER ancestors were early seventeenth century Catholic emigrants in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Their grandparents moved from St. Mary's County, Maryland to Washington County, Kentucky in an area that later became Marion County, and then to Ralls County, Missouri. Spalding Springs in Ralls County, a popular mineral spring, was named for BENJAMIN AARON SPALDING who ran the resort. BENJAMIN AARON SPALDING was born 4/8/1796 in Washington County, Kentucky and became one of the first emigrants in Ralls County, where he died on 2/20/1874. Two of his Kentucky cousins became American Catholic Bishops -- Rt. Rev. Martin John Spalding, Archbishop of Baltimore, and Rev. John Lancaster Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, Illinois.

On arriving in Waxahachie, with no priests, no Catholic community and no Catholic Church to assist the two young Catholics in the sparsely populated area of Ellis County, for about a dozen years the SPALDING men kept their faith and practiced their religion as best they could. By 1870 they were joined by the Blumgartners and in l87lby the TIERNEY, SOLON, COGLEY, KELLEHER, and other Irish Catholic families. Occasionally French Missionary priests would appear on horseback and celebrate Mass in one of the Catholic homes.

When he was a teenager, JOHN HENRY SPALDING lived for a time with his uncle W.E. "Mack" Spalding in Paris, Missouri and from him had learned the art of making furniture and coffins. His uncle, W.E. Spalding, had learned the art of cabinet making in Kentucky, and had established a prosperous furniture factory and undertaking business in Paris, Missouri, prior to the Civil War.

In the spring of 1859 in Paris, Missouri JOHN HENRY SPALDING married first Mary Langsford, the daughter of Nicholas B. and Margaret Langsford. In the fall of 1859 the young couple moved to Texas,settling first in an area below San Antonio, and then moving to Waxahachie where Mary's parents had just settled. Mary Langsford Spalding's father, Nicholas B. Langsford, served as sheriff in Ellis County for four years. Mary Langsford Spalding and her parents were among twelve people, including a negro slave, Jane, who started the Baptist Church in Waxahachie.

JOHN HENRY SPALDING opened a furniture store and later an undertaking business on the Waxahachiesquare, across from the court house. His wife Mary died in 8/1865, leaving no children. On 12/30/1868 JOHN HENRY SPALDING married secondly Laura Jane Parks (b 12/22/1848 near Fayetteville, TN, d 12/27/1927), the daughter of William Woodruff Parks and Sophia Ann Koonce. The Presbyterian Minister from the Church to which Laura belonged performed their marriage. Laura Jane's parents had died during the civil war. In the 1870 census JOHN HENRY SPALDING age 35, a cabinet maker, his 20 year old wife, year old son, and the sisters of his wife were enumerated living in his household.

The Parks family had arrived in Waxahachie "on a cold day in December, 1853 and went to Jerald D. Marchbank's dry goods store, the only building in town except for a grocery and a saloon, to get warm. On 1/2/1856 the Parks bought the D.W. Wright place of 23 acres which lay east of Hawkins Street and south of Jefferson Street. Here William Woodruff Parks built his home and raised his five daughters: Martha Emily Parks who married Har1en Rowen; Laura Jane Parks who married JOHN HENRY SPALDING; Nancy Ann Parks who married George P. Bullard; Sarah Frances Parks who married D.W. Morris; and Mary Eliza Parks who married BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING. William Woodruff Parks "began business in Ellis County as a land surveyor in 1854, and then was elected District Clerk in 1855. He retained this office until he enlisted in the Civil War." Parks Street in Waxahachie was named for Captain W. W. Parks, the early District Clerk, who died during the Civil War. The Parks home located on 209 Hawkins Street, pictured below, where Mary Eliza Parks Spalding, one of the first converts at St. Joseph's Church, was raised, is said to be one of the oldest houses in Waxahachie.

After their marriage JOHN HENRY SPALDING and his wife Laura Jane built their home, pictured below, on the corner of Hawkins and Jefferson, next to her parent's house.

JOHN HENRY SPALDING and Laura were the parents of four children, all born in Waxahachie and buried in the City Cemetery, a short distance down Hawkins Road from their home: WILLIAM AARON SPALDING born lOnt1869, died 1957; CLINTON OMAS SPALDING born 2/8/1871, died 1947; ANNA KATHERINE SPALDING born 7/17/1872, single, died 1953; and FRANKLIN EVERMONT SPALDING born 6/30/1877, died 11/17/1955 near Maypearl. After the death of his first wife, Edna Wallace, FRANKLIN EVERMONT SPALDING married secondly on 4/11/1920 Marie Duffy at St. Joseph's. FRANKLIN EVERMONT SPALDING had no children.

After JOHN HENRY SPALDING lost his furniture and undertaking business, he became the sheriff of Waxahachie. In the 1880 census he was termed "city marshal." WILLIAM AARON SPALDING, the son of JOHN HENRY SPALDING and Laura Parks, was the family historian. From his writings the facts about the SPALDING and Parks families are known. He wrote of his father: JOHN HENRY SPALDING, my father, was born in Ralls County, Missouri about 12 miles west of HamnDal on April 29, 1835, the seventh child and fifth boy of a family of ten children. From the stories of his childhood he told me, he must have been a hardy, energetic boy, hunting, trapping, and fishing. . . . He never mentioned his schooling and, I presume he had very little all though he was well versed in the Bible, and had a good knowledge and admiration of the best poetry. On March 6, 1871 William W. Knight was appointed postmaster at Waxahachie and my father, D.B. Bullard and H.R. Parks went on his bond. On November 13, 1873 Knight was removed from office and a check of his accounts revealed a shortage. This brought a peremptory demand upon my father for $582.60. Suit was filed in the U.S. District court against Knight and his bondsmen in 1875 and judgment was obtained against them for $1016.93 and costs of $131.83 and

later costs and interest of $43.21. The judgment and costs were paid equally by my father and Mr. Bullard; Parks not paying anything. (H.R. Parks died in the Civil War.) Raising this money forced my father to sell out his furniture manufactory to my UNCLE BEN and Henry L. Manuel, and he was forced to seek other employment. (This is when JOHN HENRY SPALDING became the city marshal.) In 1874 my father bought 480 acres of land on Chambers Creek in the southwest comer of Ellis County. ... At the time of his death in 1882 he had the place well stocked with his own cattle, but we had to dispose of them as well as all the horses. . . .For many years after my father's death we worried along with this farm. This farm is still in the possession of my mother's estate and due to her good and frugal management there has never been a mortgage on it. It is now owned by me, my sister Kate, my brother Frank, and Robert K. Spalding, my nephew. I am the present manager.

WILLIAM AARON SPALDING stated further: About 1879 or 80 the Methodists dominated the educational scene with Marvin College. The other church denominations were more or less on the "outside looking in". My father, Mr. R.M. Wyatt, Mr. A. Trippett and other non-Methodists organized a school known as Oak Lawn (closed in 1885). . . . The Waxahachie Public Schools took over Old Marvin College in the fall of 1885.

“We were a happy family until my father's death which occurred on Sunday evening about 8 p.m., December 17, 1882. We were busy getting our lesson for the next day when we heard Aunt Nannie Bullard at our door and she was sobbing. She announced that a Negro had shot Brother JOHN. Several men came with her. We did not know immediately that he had been killed. Some one had violated the Sunday closing law and sold a Negro, Charlie Smith, some whiskey. The Negro had a pistol and bluffed my father's deputy marshal, Luther Allen. About this time my father appeared on the scene, and, of course, could have killed the Negro immediately as he was an excellent marksman. He chose to disarm the Negro by taking away his pistol. I suppose upon reaching for the Negro’s pistol the latter fired; the ball entering his forehead just above the left eye killing him instantly. The scene of the killing was on a small bridge over the branch between Jackson and Kaufman Streets and just north of the railroad. .. Christmas 1882 was a sad one for us. ...”.

The newspaper account for this fatal day reads in part: JOHN SPALDING has been murdered while in the discharge of his duty. His murderer has been slain while resisting arrest. The murderer was drunk. MR. SPALDING's wife has been in one moment, made a widow, and his children have been robbed of a father. The blood of two men has stained the soil of Waxahachie.

The will of JOHN HENRY SPALDING was probated on 12/26/1882, leaving everything to his wife Laura (Will #446). A fictitious story based on the widow of JOHN HENRY SPALDING, starring Sally Fields, who won an Oscar for this role, was filmed in Waxahachie and called "Places in the Heart." The movie setting took place during the depression rather than the 1880s. It also depicted a violent Texas-type tornado, which hadn't actually happened in Waxahachie. The movie was directed by ROBERT DOUGLAS BENTON, the great grandson of JOHN HENRY SPALDING and Laura Jane Parks, a grandson of their son CLINTON THOMAS SPALDING. ROBERT DOUGLAS BENTON was responsible for making his Waxahachie birthplace a Hollywood "film land," where over 25 films were made.

After his father's death, WILLIAM AARON SPALDING relates: My mother met herself resolutely to the task of carrying on alone. All the horses and wagons were sold except one pony, and all the cattle except one milk cow. We had an income from our farm of only $350 per year for a number of years thereafter. She kept boarders and took in sewing and with small earnings by CLINT and me we got by somehow. Of course, living was cheap in those days. We carried on our studies in school, paying tuition. I was open to any job that came my way and I earned quite a few dollars as carpenter helper.

Laura had the family home moved back on Hawkins Street and built a new larger house on the corner of Hawkins and Jefferson where she took in boarders. She left her property to her single daughter ANN KATHERINE SPALDING, who in turn left it to her nephew WILLIAM AARON SPALDING, JR.

WILLIAM AARON SPALDING and his siblings were raised in the Presbyterian religion of their mother. WILLIAM AARON SPALDING, the son of JOHN HENRY SPALDING and Laura Jane Parks, became a Civil Engineer. In Green Forest, Arkansas on 11/25/1903 he married Mary Gertrude Fancher (b 9/21/1880 in Berryville, AR, d 2/27/1977 in Waxahachie), the daughter of James Polk Fancher and Susan Crump. They were the parents of five children. Their three oldest children were born in Berryville, Arkansas: ALBERT KELLOGG SPALDING born 9/11/1904; JOSEPH FANCHER SPALDING born 10/5/1906; and EDWARD SPALDING born 9/20/1908, died 1/6/1918. MARY LOUlSE SPALDING was born 11/13/1910 in Houston, Texas; WILLIAM AARON SPALDING, JR was born 1112/1917 in Kansas City, Missouri; and KATHRYN SPALDING was born 6/20/1922 in Waxahachie, Texas. His wife, Mary Gertrude Spalding, became the first woman to serve on the city school board of Waxahachie.

WILLIAM AARON SPALDING, JR., a naval officer and a mortgage banker, married Margaret McKennon (b 9/8/1924 in Waxahachie, TX), the daughter of Franklin Archibald McKennon and Margaret Kemble. They had two children: WILLIAM MCKENNON SPALDING born 4/3/1952 in Waxahachie, Texas, a doctor, practicing in Midland, Texas, and the father of two children; and MARGARET LOUISE SPALDING born 4/1 0/1956 in Camden, Arkansas while her father was in the navy. She is single, and employed with a court reporting firm. MARGARET LOUISE "PEGGY" SPALDING and her mother Margaret McKennon Spalding reside at 607 W. Jefferson in Waxahachie and were extremely helpful with information for this parish history. Their home is adorned with many beautiful oil paintings, creations of WILLIAM AARON SPALDING, JR, an accomplished artist. WILLIAM MCKENNON SPALDING married Susanne Dickson, a Catholic, and his children, not living in Waxahachie, are Catholics.

The SPALDING brothers were given as members of St. Joseph's Parish when the first Church was dedicated in 1875. An account book from 1895 until 1909 for the second St. Joseph's Church shows BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING was one of three on the financial committee for the Church. When BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING died, he was buried from St. Joseph's Church and interned in the Waxahachie City Cemetery.

WILLIAM AARON. SPALDING wrote the following concerning his uncle BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: My Uncle Ben, came to Texas with my father in 1859 and learned furniture and cabinet making from him. He entered the Confederate Army as a private in Parsons Brigade, 12th Texas Calvary. He saw service on the Texas coast mostly around Houston and Galveston, all though he was in Louisiana and Arkansas. After the war he worked with Mr. N.G. Wise in his wagon factory. About the middle 70's he and Henry L. Manuel, also from Paris, Missouri, bought my father's furniture and undertaking business and ran it with little or no opposition until 1889 when they quarreled and dissolved partnership; Uncle Ben continuing the business. I never liked Henry Manuel. Whenever I was around the furniture store it seemed he tried to make me feel I was in the way. In 1890 Uncle Ben sent for STERLING PRICE SPALDING, II (his nephew) and thereafter ran his business with more satisfaction until 1892 when sold out to STERLING and James L. McCartuey. He married my mother's youngest sister, Mary E. Parks (Aunt Mittie) January 25, 1882 at Cambridge, Clay County, where she was visiting her cousin, Mrs. Fanny (Parks) Curtis. During the course of business he accumulated considerable real property, and after retiring, devoted his time to his farming interests. After my father's death in 1882 he tried to help my mother handle her affairs with indifferent success. He was quite a help to me in completing my University course by lending me $250 all of which 1 paid back before 1902. He died April 4, 1908, leaving besides his wife, a son JOHN FRANKLIN (1885-1918) and an adopted daughter Annie Morris, his wife's niece. Their first child was DOUGLAS GRAY, born 1883 and died in 1888.

The original SPALDING furniture and mortuary business on the town square burned during one of the cities' early fires. Later this business was found on Rogers and Water Streets. The 1907 Waxahachie City Directory gives BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING residing on West Main and his furniture store on Water Street.

Below is a picture of the home of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and Mary E. SPALDING on West Main Street, now the home of Mary's nephew Thomas Morris and his wife Margaret. In their home is the BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING Bible.

Mary E. Parks became a convert to the Catholic Church in 1882. According to St. Joseph's early "account book" she was very active in the Altar Society. The baptisms of the sons of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING and Mary E. Parks were recorded in the Catholic Church records in Corsicana with Father C. M. Thion performing the rites. John and Agnes Solon were sponsors for JOHN DOUGLAS G. SPALDING (b 9/11/1883, bap 3/23/1885), and Andrew and Marguerite Naughton were the sponsors for JOHNFRANKLIN SPALDING (b 10/22/1885, bap 5/12/1886). JOHN FRANKLIN SPALDING died of the flu in 10/16/1918. His funeral service was preached "at the cemetery on account of the influenza quarantine."

BEN SPALDING was called Colonel for his service in the Civil War, in which he, his brother JOHN HENRY SPALDING, and father-in-law William Woodruff Parks, participated. Captain W.W. Parks, who had been the "esteemed clerk of the district court for Ellis County" lost his life in the Confederate cause. Besides telling of his birth place, when he came to Waxahachie, his activities in the Civil War, and his burial from St. Joseph's Church, the newspaper obituaries stated BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SPALDING had been in the furniture business for thirty years and was a prominent fixture in the commercial life of Waxahachie.

Mr. SPALDING was a public spirited citizen and a man who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends: We have been called upon to layaway the body of another of our old, well known and highly esteemed citizens in its final resting place. By his industry and good management he accumulated a nice property and associated with others in the establishment of the Waxahachie National Bank, of which he was for many years and until his death one of the directors. As a citizen he was quiet and unassuming but had firm convictions and in his conduct did not hesitate to assert them. His honesty and integrity were beyond question. As a husband and father he was faithful to every duty.

Below is an early picture of some of the SPALDINGS at their furniture store.

STERLING PRICE SPALDING, the nephew of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, after his marriage moved to Waxahachie to work with his uncle in the furniture and undertaking business. They were the parents of three children, all born in Waxahachie. His half-brother, ROSCOE CONKLING SPALDING (b 7/12/1885 in Ralls Co., MO), as a young man came to Waxahachie to enter the furniture and undertaking business with his brother STERLING PRICE SPALDING. Later ROSCOE entered the business for himself, engaging in furniture sales and refinishing. He was crippled since childhood and moved with a crutch. It is said he bore his affliction patiently and cheerfully. ROSCOE SPALDING is given as a contributing member of St. Joseph's Parish in the early 1900s. At St. Joseph's Catholic Church on 9/30/1920 he married Mary: Margaret) Wheelis, a non-Catholic. They had no children.

Reported Paranormal Experiences:

The owners were smudging one night to remove any negative entities from the building; there was a lot of smoke from the smudging. The smoke started swirling, they opened the front door and the smoke swirled towards it, they saw a face in the smoke similar to that of a drama mask, this event was witnessed by Ann and Michael. Ann seems to believe that there are multiple entities that like to come and go at the building. Ann was laying in bed on night and some one started rubbing her back, she turned around to thank her husband and found him fast asleep. She asked the entity to leave them alone. During the initial restoration of the building the second floor of the building seemed to stay dark even though the lights were on and the window open, seemed as though there was a large shadow in the room.

Lacy's interview: Lacy is the Waxahachie Building Inspector. Basement- no experiences. Third Floor -When the building was being converted, the door to the staircase opened and she heard a woman laughing. She also saw a young blond girl in the corner of the room on the third floor wearing period, late 1800’s, dress with a white apron. She also heard a very playful clapping and laughing. She has seen the girl about three times so far. One day while she was on her way to work she saw a gentleman standing at the front door, he was dressed in overalls and a t-shirt. He looked to be in his 50’s or 60’s. He looked like he was unlocking the door , the door opened about 6 inches, and then he disappeared. She has also heard a man in the storage area ask “What are you doing?” and there was no one in the room. She also believed that all of the entities in the building to be friendly. She has been in the room with others and answered their questions and heard clapping and giggling is she has answered correctly, like the entity was watching and listening to their conversation. The girl seems to be in her 20’s.

Ann's interview: Ann Stated she had not ever seen any actual manifestation of the lady but she did say that one time when she was upset it felt like someone was rubbing her back, she stated that she saw the outline of someone in black but she felt like it was a woman. She said that a digital photograph was taken but they could only see pink and no physical features. She said she just does not like the basement. She feels uneasy and is not somewhere she wants to go to. She does feel like someone is buried down there, possibly a Native American or other. She feels uneasy towards the back, near the dirt pile. She also stated that during the depression there was a mummy down in the basement for an unknown amount of time. She also indicated that when they first got the building the back room where she holds classes and the office area, no amount of light could ever illuminate the room and were barely able to see. She said that changed later after the blessings where done in the building. The reasons for the various symbols throughout the building are that, a friend of Ann’s, “a witch” was not sure of what they where dealing with so she did a broad scope of blessing and protection symbols to help out Ann. The lady did not ever indicate wither she did feel like something was there or not. Ann told of a event where she was doing a spy treatment and was burning various healing ingredients and the front door came open. Ann has no answers as to why there is runes and protective symbols only appearing on the left wall of the basement and not the right. The symbols where made to encompass all aspects of religion, ancient to recent cultures and beliefs, and some imposed with two or three types of writing with other religions in one symbol, the dominant writings being both Hebrew and cabala. One of the major symbols
present in the basement is the solar cross with pentacles. Her son, one of the owners of the catfish plantation, was living up stairs when he decided to move out due to the activity but Ann is not aware of what all transpired.

Texas Spirit Seekers Investigators:

Lance Brooks, John Penny, James Leslie, Adam Brooks, Greg Stevens, David McMahon, Sasha Cabes, Brandon Stevens.

Instrumentation:

Thermal image taken on the first floor, back room of the Spalding Building

Temperature of the room is lower than the figure in the photo by about 1.5

To 2 degrees. Seems to be the form of a woman, hair up and her hand under

her chin.

Photo #2